Lottie Woad well off the pace after first round of Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
Watch the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship live on Sky Sports Golf with coverage of the 54-hole tournament continuing on Saturday at 9pm; Ireland's Leona Maguire makes a strong start with seven-under 64 as Sarah Schmelzel and Minami Katsu lead
Saturday 20 September 2025 07:39, UK
Lottie Woad made a disappointing start as she carded a two-over 73 in the first round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
The 21-year-old Englishwoman had an up-and-down round after starting on the 10th hole at Pinnacle Country Club, carding three birdies and five bogeys, including three successive dropped shots from the 12th and back-to-back bogeys at the fourth and fifth.
There was better news for Ireland's Leona Maguire, who shot a seven-under-par 64 to put herself firmly in contention.
Sarah Schmelzel went from the middle of the pack to a tie for the lead in just five holes, closing with four straight birdies and an eagle for an eight-under 63 to match Minami Katsu.
Alison Lee also finished strong with a birdie and an eagle and was among those one shot behind, in her third tournament back from giving birth to a son in late April.
The scoring was low at Pinnacle Country Club, which concerned Schmelzel. She went out in 34 and was at two under and seemingly going nowhere. But she knew she was coming up on some scoring holes, with short clubs into the green and two par fives.
"You should at least have looks on all those because you have pretty short clubs in," Schmelzel said. "I told my caddie walking to the green on 14, I need to start making some birdies or else I'm going to get lapped out there today."
Maguire did not drop a shot in her round, and a run of five birdies in seven holes saw her charge into contention at the top of the field, a stroke behind early joint-leaders Katsu and Schmelzel.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff carded a three-under 68 but was left to rue a bogey at the par-four 16th, which was the only blemish on an otherwise good round.
A double-bogey seven at the 14th was expensive for Caley McGinty, for whom two birdies elsewhere on her card ensured she signed for an even-par round and joint 103rd.
World No 2 Nelly Korda, who remains winless this season, shot a two-under-par 69.
The 54-hole Walmart NW Arkansas Championship is live on Sky Sports Golf on Friday 19 September, from 9pm. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW
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